Agenda item

The Committee heard from the Director of Planning, Regeneration & Communities regarding the West Lindsey Cultural Strategy. She explained that in January 2020 the Corporate Peer Challenge highlighted there was potential to align and increase the use of, and maximise income from, the district’s existing and planned cultural assets such as the Trinity Arts Centre and the planned town centre cinema. In recognition of this significant potential, the peer review recommended that the council consider the development of a cultural strategy in order to achieve a clear strategic position and to guide work moving forwards.

Supported by Tom Flemming Creative Consultancy, the strategy was the product of many hours of engagement, with the Prosperous Communities Committee, wider Member input, with Officers and with the varied and dedicated network of existing and potential future providers, including valued community organisations. The input had shaped the vision and the four emerging priorities, and the Council was looking forward to developing these important relationships as it moved into delivery.

The strategy set culture at the centre of communities and the economy, recognising that access to culture can support the well-being and distinctiveness of a place.

Four priority themes had been developed to shape and guide the work, and it had taken time to ensure these priorities reflected the Council’s aspiration for cultural activity. Members heard these priorities were:

Grassroots Culture: this work would focus on developing the ‘West Lindsey Way’ for culture, which meant working with community cultural organisations and assets to develop a local approach, in order to ensure that anything undertaken left a legacy of strong, local providers and provision.

Great Places: Through this priority it would be ensured that culture played a role in place making, that the regeneration plans provided inclusive cultural opportunities and that the programming of events and activity was district wide.

Community Well-being: the Council saw culture as a foundation to a happier, healthier district, enhancing quality of life and boosting pride and confidence.

Dynamic Talent and Practice. Championing local talent and providing opportunities for talent to work in the district through innovative programming and touring opportunities.

It was explained that, alongside the strategy, a short executive summary had been developed, which was designed to be accessible and set out a brief overview of the vision and priorities. The strategy was supported by a three year action plan. For year one, the action plan set out 19 priority actions that aimed to set in motion the delivery of the strategy, bring in the resources needed for the delivery and create the monitoring framework, with partners and providers that would be used to drive the evaluation of the work. Actions for years two and three were included, with further work to continue to develop interventions as the plan was enacted.

A key pillar of this strategy required the creation of new roles to drive forwards the work. Funding had been made available through the MTFP to create a new, permanent Community Cultural Officer. It would be the responsibility of this officer to develop the ‘West Lindsey Way’ for community led cultural provision – setting the tone for the enabling approach and working on a day to day basis to support community organisations with their delivery and sustainability.

The strategy also proposed the creation of a fixed term Cultural Development Manager. This post would lead the establishment of a Cultural Providers Network and bring in expertise to lead the council’s application to secure National Portfolio Organisation Status. This fixed term role would be funded from council reserves already in place to support the delivery of culture.

It was highlighted that the Leisure, Culture, Economy, and Tourism Members working group would have a critical role to play in shaping and overseeing the delivery of this strategy. Initially they would work to develop the set of metrics by which performance would be monitored and in order to ensure that the group could be as effective as possible, the terms of reference had been reviewed and updated, and were presented for approval.

It was confirmed that an annual update on progress with delivery of the strategy would be presented to the Prosperous Communities Committee and that securing approval for this strategy would send a strong signal to providers, the community and potential future funders that West Lindsey was committed to culture and keen to progress to the delivery of the aspirations set out within the document.

During the course of the debate, Members expressed their support for the Cultural Strategy and thanked Officers for their work. With regard to the Leisure, Culture, Events and Tourism working group, it was requested whether the quorum of the group could be amended to be three Members. Members of the group who were also Members of the Committee, supported this suggestion as it would enable them to continue meeting even in the event of some group members being unavailable.

There was significant focus on the use of existing groups and organisations, and the need to support them in order to build the cultural offering. It was highlighted that the action plan provided focus on grass roots culture, and this was recognised as being key across the district.

Members highlighted the need for a collaborative approach, for example to ensure events weren’t scheduled to clash and therefore reducing attendance at different events, with the desire being to encourage growth in local communities as well as seeking to bring in tourism and visitors.

Having been proposed and seconded, and with the amendment of quoracy agreed, it was unanimously

            RESOLVED that

a)    the West Lindsey Cultural Strategy be approved; and

b)    an annual update on progress be presented to the Prosperous Communities Committee; and

c)    the updated Terms of Reference for the Leisure, Culture, Economy, and Tourism member working group be approved, subject to a change of quoracy to be three Members.